Is fretless decreasing in popularity?

[thmsjordan]

I think as Jaco has faded a bit from the spotlight and other players have become the flavor of the week that fretless has faded a bit, but it's on the map now in a way it wasn't before. Still it isn't what it was in the 80's. IMHO the number of artists who can make them sound good is incredibly small.

I always had a fretless on hand as a freelancer and never got a call for it in any musical, jazz gig, or production I was hired for. Now that I am doing more music I want to do, I find no reason to keep the thing and I am in the process of putting a fretted neck on my Warmoth fretless build.

So in my case the fretless has never been useful or popular. I prefer upright for 'fretless' work anyways. I am thrilled to be playing more and more acoustic music these days and getting away from electronic music. I get calls for that kind of fretless.

 

[brianrost]

Almost every brand has a fretless version / option of everything.

?????

Most brands don't offer many (or any) fretless models. I'm not even sure why Fender decided to start offering fretless P basses in 1968 but they didn't offer a fretless J bass until the 1990s. Gibson had nothing until the Ripper (1974?) and today has nothing again. I could walk into my local Guitar Center and not see a single fretless bass there.

Disclaimer: I played fretless basses starting in 1982 when I bought a B.C. Rich Eagle. I even had a fretless Steinberger L2 for a while but never used it on a gig. About ten years ago I sold my Godin Acoustibass and Pedulla Buzz and that was the end of the line.

 

[Jogobass]

I love fretless. Been my main bass for about 25 years. I will keep playing it and use it in any style. I don't care about how popular it is. It's my voice as a bassplayer.

 

[mmon77]

I love fretless basses. As far as their popularity goes....they've never been really popular, and I don't think that has changed.

The fact that people buy them with good intentions and then don't like/can't play/don't want to put in the time, etc. just means there are more good deals for me!

 

[JazznFunk]

The lack of fretless MusicMan StingRays available these days tells me they're popular.... or just rare. The first bass I held in my hands that a teacher loaned me was a fretless. He told me 'I'm not playing this one a lot lately so you can borrow it till you buy a bass of your own... if you can start with this, sound good without frets and get your ear right, you'll be able to sound good on anything'. My love of fretless started from day one.

 

[Stewie]

I keep trying, but I can’t play on frets without sounding like…..

 

[Al Rivera]

Definitely less popular now. In the 90s we had popular bands bassist playing them;think pearl jam,the firm, pino Paladino,edie brickell etc. And jaco is just a distant memory for a lot of today's bassist.

 

[etoncrow]

Happened over time but seven of my eight basses are fretless.

 

[Andy Marshman]

I've been checking this argument out for over 30 years. I don't think that audiences (other than bass players in the audience) know or much care if you're playing fretless or not. I believe that the choice to play a fretless is yours alone. I don't believe there's any popularity factor involved.

 

[JRA]

Is fretless decreasing in popularity?
the opposite: it's a more popular choice these days than ever before.

i voted "has increased over time" because:
- i believe it to be true.
- it was the only 'cheerful' option.
- the TB "bassist" emoji is playing a fretless:
- if it's not true, then why do i have so many of them?

I just like saying exponentially.

indubitably!

 

[Koshchei]

Fretless is a bit of a niche instrument. I love mine, but it has some limitations that are impossible to overcome vis a vis closed-voice chording that will always make it subordinate to a fretted bass for me.

 

[nanbanpapa]

Fretless is a bit of a niche instrument. I love mine, but it has some limitations that are impossible to overcome vis a vis closed-voice chording that will always make it subordinate to a fretted bass for me.

I mostly agree with this. I don't know about its popularity but fretless is definitely more specialized than conventional electric bass. It has a specific tone and it requires a specific technique. Or you can turn it around. The fretted electric bass is very popular because it can be applied to all kinds of styles and situations.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I think fretless bass is more “accessible” to people than it's ever been, and I’m sure more people own a fretless bass these days.
I don’t know that that means more people are playing fretless well - at a performance level.

It’s not something that everyone can just pick up, and although some people are more “naturally gifted” at things than others, I’m not one of them.
But I started on upright at an early age, and by fate and sheer dumb luck, my 1st bass was a fretless P, which was very natural to me, and it was all I knew the 1st few years of playing electric. Then, after 3 years or so, I got my 1st fretted bass, and I felt “less burdened” - especially playing in a R&R band - and it was a better fit for some things, although I always carried a fretless as well.

Fretless can be – or is – sort of a “niche” instrument.
It isn’t always the best fit for everything – especially depending on the skill of the player.
In the last ½ dozen or so bands/projects I’ve been involved with – I can only think of one where I’d be comfortable doing the whole gig on fretless.

 

[roccobass]

I have a fretless PJ, a fretless Jazz and my upright. I’m down to one fretted.
My interest is 3-1 in favor of fretless. It’s also the freedom of it. As far as music goes, I listen to a lot of jazz and r&b and it definitely fits there.

Goofball, that I am, I never fully answered the question. I was speaking of myself only. Truly, I do see more fretted out there. Because modern pop, rock and funk seem to be the dominant genres usually want that “upfront” distinction. If you’re in a cover band, a lot of times they want you to play fretted. As mentioned before, a lot of players here are not comfortable with fretless.

Just to comment quickly on my upright. I love it, but it’s impractical in loud situations. I also am not partial to playing rockabilly, but appreciate those who do.

 

[kmon]

Playing one type of bass badly is enough for me

 

[roccobass]

I don’t know. I wish more people would play fretless so there’d be some more stock fretless options out there, especially in the budget to mid-level range.

I’m with you on that. My second fretless I had to piece together from an All Parts Jazz neck and a MIM Fender Jazz body. Replaced the pickups and bridge. Total cost about $650 at the time. Still have it. This was 2009 when I did it. My latest love is my Tony Franklin fretless PJ. Really digging’ it.

 

[Jugghaid]

Fretless is a great tool. I'm waiting in my new one to be completed. 16 months and counting but it will be worth it.

 

[GreyBeard]

I have no idea.

All I know is that I prefer fretless by a large margin

Same here, If I wasn't also the lead singer, I'd play fretless 100% of the time. As it is though, worrying about my bass intonation is just one too many things from my old brain to do.

 

[hooky_marr]

My first bass was a fretless (a red Yamaha RBX 200f) and I’ve owned several over the years thanks to my obsession with Mick Karn but nothing clicked.

Now in the process of converting a CAR short-scale J to fretless, using a Kahler 2440 bridge to get tighter spacing and building out a new bass pedalboard to get closer to the sound in my head.

Fretless to me is Tony Levin, Pino Palladino and Mick Karn; more of a lead bass / countermelody instrument, almost a singing voice. When paired with a bit of flanger or octave pedal it’s *chef kiss*

 

[groovepump]

I don’t know. I wish more people would play fretless so there’d be some more stock fretless options out there, especially in the budget to mid-level range.

Agree 100%. The choices are fewer in varying price points, which is why I de-fretted a 5 string last month because I had an extra bass, and didn't want to spend the money on the one I really think I want (Ibanez SRF705 Portamento). But, the de-fretted Glarry with flats is doing the trick and sounds great. But you're right, budget to mid-level fretless basses have fewer options.